Life can be a Puzzle – Astrology Reveals Your Missing Pieces…

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This current Moon cycle, which began November 29th at 5:19a MST at 07 degrees of Sagittarius 43′, had both the Moon + Sun standing together in the sky within the element of mutable fire. Sagittarius brings out How and What we Seek about our respective Higher Truths. Our philosophy of “Why Am I Here? What Is My Purpose?” We were all in the Dark about some aspect of this theme at this time.

By Full Moon, December 13th at 5:07p MST at 22 degrees of Gemini 26′, we all saw something of ourselves Within the Light, if only a wee bit more. Gemini brings forth information, people, connections/communications/conversations. Some AHA! moments ensued, and sharing of what has been learned, even if it was just in your journals.

Today, the Moon phase of the Last QTR Moon begins at 6:57p MST at 29 degrees of Virgo 38′, just hours prior to the Sun entering 00 degrees of Capricorn (as of 3:45a MST) heralding the Winter Solstice or New Moon timing of our Solar (Sun) year. Our longest night is December 21st – the Darkest time of the year. Hence all of the Christmas lights, candles and parties to distract ourselves from this annual Darkness, that can sometimes plunge us into depression, anger, sadness, joy-lessness. Embrace this Winter Solstice energy with Light in your hearts and minds, as you look forward to family gatherings this weekend! The Yule Log was a symbol of Light, and the Ancient Egyptians introduced the symbol of the tree at this time of year, believe it or not! NEW GROWTH, which is a very Cardinal thing to do (Capricorn being the element/energy of Cardinal Earth) and the more Light we have, the better the growth!

The Last QTR Moon phase brings about a Crisis of Consciousness of some sort that creates a reorientation of some aspect of our Ego-self that has been in charge up until now. Due to whatever you have experienced this Moon cycle, so far, what comes to mind, as a habit or way of DOing while BEing, that is about to be jettisoned out of your life, perhaps forever?

Virgo brings forth the need to BE of service, helping others, learning a trade/industry, sharing in the processes of DOing the work, with others usually. The Shadow side of Virgo brings the NEED to BE Perfect/perfectionism, procrastination delaying moving forward because “it’s not perfect yet!”, in all things to the point that we can alienate others because our Ego-self demands perfection – from THEM and SELF. Virgo also rules the health of the physical body, and those of us with either Virgo Sun/Moon or Virgo Rising or Virgo in the House it rules, the 6th House, our attention is always drawn back to how well we are looking after our physical bodies – the Temple that also holds our Inner Temple of our respective Spirit/Soul.

Virgo is also the opposite sign to Pisces. Here we learn to create an “AND” world by embracing both sides of ourselves (and yes, we ALL have every sign of the Zodiac in our charts, therefore we ALL undergo each sign’s gifts for evolution: physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually). What we CHOOSE to do with these planetary gifts/cycles of opportunities for inner self-growth is up to each one of us.

A couple of interesting planetary formations have been going on during this Moon cycle. They are:

Neptune + South Node, in Pisces:Neptune rules Pisces, and their natural home is the 12 House of the Spiritual/Divine Self (Higher Self or God or Great Spirit – however you ‘see’ this to be), our Past Lives, and our Hidden Self (hence the Past Lives) whereby we can be trucking along, living Life, yet UNCONSCIOUSLY undermining ourselves via self-sabotage, hence the 12th House of Self-Undoing…The South Node, the Dragon’s Tail that brings forth old unresolved issues from our past, to be swept away, (from this lifetime/past lives) for us to SEE and FEEL and re-EXPERIENCE, with the intent to become conscious of this issue, heal, forgive and let go of, if possible (sometimes we only take yet another layer off, to be continued another time). Neptune and the South Node have been slowly coming together all summer, and were EXACT (together, at 9 degrees of Pisces) from November 13 – 23rd during the previous Moon cycle. That was the ‘full moon’ peaking time for these two.Now, within this Moon cycle, they have passed one another, yet still close together to create tension to DISSOLVE (Neptune) those illusions/delusions our Ego-Self has been navigating under for who knows how long. Where in your chart is Pisces? This is where the themes of that House have been affected by illusion/delusion – Ghosts of YOUR Past. Here we are ‘seeing’ that Old Age of Pisces’ Drama Triangle trilogy – vicim/victimize – rescuer/rescue me – persecutor/bully others. How are YOU doing the “o woe is me!” stance of Victim? Then perhaps rushing out to rescue some OTHER to disregard your own situation? Or perhaps blaming an OTHER for it all, thereby not taking responsibility for YOUR actions/inactions? The previous time the South Node travelled through Pisces was January 26, 1997 until October 20, 1998 (Jupiter helped a wee bit to make it LOUD and CLEAR what needed to be healed back then). What did YOU experience of any of these themes back then? How have you grown since? What still sits unconsciously Within? Neptune’s been in Pisces since February 3, 2012 until March 30, 2025 – still a bit of a journey ahead. I will list all the outer planetary transits through Pisces below, later on in this post.

Mercury Rx (Retrograde)! OMG! Yes – a FOURTH cycle of Mercury Rx that usually occurs just three times a year! The actual timing of this Rx period is December 19 to January 7, 2017 in the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn – how we think about Material Gain, our reputations, the goals we set for our Future Self, and the integrity of who / how we do business with in this world. Taking current resources and transforming them into something NEW that is required to be shared for the good of all. The pre-Rx Shadow timing was from December 1st to 18th; the post-Rx Shadow timing will begin January 8 – 27, 2017. Think of the actual Rx period as the “peaked or full moon” time, with the lead up – then fall away, energetically, before and after, respectively. When Mercury, the planet of communication, conversation, learning, sharing knowledge, and data gathering, is Rx, our logical brain goes offline and we dip into the intuitive/creative side instead. Here reason doesn’t matter. Straight-lined thought no longer exists. Thinking outside the usual boxes is key, along with reconnection with people from our pasts, and clearing up paperwork/closets/garages etc. will be the norm this Christmas! LISTEN, to your INTUITION. BE CREATIVE with problem-solving. Laugh at yourself as much as possible. We are all human beings journeying our respective, wonderful processes of evolution – a beautiful work in progress! Sincerely, heartfully, yes you are! Mercury Rx asks us to change our minds about HOW we DO material gain. If it hasn’t been working for you until now – what needs to change? And then DO IT. What House is Capricorn in for your Life? From 15 degrees Capricorn 07′ back to 28 degrees Sagittarius 52′ – we are revisiting ALL the thoughts, conversations, decisions we’ve been making since December 1st! Need a do-over? Now’s your chance. Ghost of Your Christmas Present! What are you learning about yourself that you didn’t know you needed to know? Mercury rules our self-talk too! How are you coaching yourself, internally? And how mindful are you of this process? And, Expect the Unexpected along the way!

Both the Moon and the North Node are in Virgo as of today’s Moon phase, and we are, at the same time, letting go of AND moving forward FROM that space, all at the same time! The Moon sits at 29 degrees of Virgo, and the North Node, the Dragon’s Head, sits at 05 degrees of Virgo 57′. The Dragon’s Head/North Node beckons us onward INTO the Future, INTO the Unknown in some regard. Ghost of Your Christmas Future – what are you letting GO OF, that your Ego-Self has held onto for far too long, creating havoc within your daily work/physical health regime? What aspect of these two themes needs to 1) BE Released, and 2) NEW avenues of daily habits embraced, truly now, for a healthier YOU in future? No coincidence that many people are down with flu/colds right now…I love Astrology! True Blue planetary cycles of TIMING, every time!

Before I forget! Venus regained her Necklace (aka Throat Chakra – finding our true voice!) as of December 3rd during the Crescent Moon phase, at 25 degrees of Capricorn! Do we see a theme here! LOL! Where’s Capricorn in your chart? What haven’t you been able to ‘voice’ before now re: your financial needs/wants? Think back to November 7, 2015 when we all removed that Necklace. What died Within since then, that now comes forth with greater integrity, truth and honesty, for you?

While I researched the Pisces end of things today, I looked back at previous cycles of the outer planets through Pisces – all setting us up for what we are undergoing now! Let’s begin with the Ruler of Pisces – Neptune:

Neptune’s orbit lies between Uranus and Pluto, and takes 165 years to orbit the Sun, therefore the Zodiac and our charts! The last time Neptune was in Pisces was from April 1847 to April 1862 – and the world underwent revolutions in Europe, the Communist Manifesto was written by Marx & Engels, the USA saw the beginnings of the Confederacy (with their Civil War occurring in 1876), the Atlantic cable was completed under the ocean, and Darwin published Origin of Species in 1859. There was an explosion of metaphysical/spiritualism teachings and groups forming (theosophy), and Ether was discovered (Pisces is nebulous after all) transforming medical science at the time for surgeries. What have we seen since 2012? I like Steven Forrest’s take: “Binge TV watching of TV series becomes a national pastime.” I’d say it is global! Pisces is all about escapism, addictions and how our Ego-Self finds ways and means to create the illusion/delusion that we are NOT connected to God/Spirit, that we are NOT an eternal spiritual being experiencing a life of feelings and senses in the physical. Check this out for your own life. And, think about the thoughts/feelings/intuition you’ve been having since 2012 about YOUR spirituality. What is it? What does it mean for you? How do you DO it? You don’t – you BE it! Ego Does, Spirit IS/BEs!

Uranus was last in Pisces as of December 31, 2003 until May 29, 2010. Here is when our communication devices exploded (Uranus rules technology and the fixed air sign of Aquarius, and the New Age of Aquarius) and who doesn’t have a smartphone these days? Well mine hit the water a while back and I’m thinking of getting a new one in 2017! LOL! No pun intended (water – Pisces, get it?). iPads and cellphones and reading tablets rather than books – who knew we’d get so close to Star Wars/Star Trek life? Previous to this time: Uranus entered Pisces April 2, 1919 until January 13, 1928 (hence those “Roaring Twenties”!) ending just prior to the Crash of ’29! In between the two World Wars – look at all the escapism then. What do we have today? Pot smoking, cocaine addictions, alcoholism and gambling galore – or marathon TV watching! Whatever your addiction – take heed. Now’s your chance to CHANGE that tune! Embrace the Virgo as opposite sign’s cycle to create NEW healthy habits.

Saturn traversed through Pisces January 29, 1994 until April 7, 1996. Saturn brings structure and restriction/constriction into our lives. Jupiter likes to expand things; Saturn the opposite. Let’s get serious, responsible and set goals! Pisces says “Nah, let’s not and pretend we did! Party hearty!” Or “Let’s meditate on that a bit, k?” Where were you back then? Did you begin any new spiritual practices, visit groups who opened your mind and heart to spirituality? How were your escapism/addictive behaviours? Where are you now, with all of this? Anything left off on the side of the road, forgotten along the way these past 20 years? The next round of Saturn in Pisces will occur from March 8, 2023 until February 14, 2016. Don’t wait – use the current cycle of Neptune and the South Node to LET GO of old outmoded habits, and create your NEW spiritual structure now – or at least bring forth baby steps of change…

Jupiter was in Pisces from January 19, 2010 until June 6, 2011, before that Feb 5, 1998 until February 13, 1999, and before that Feb 21, 1986 until March 2, 1987. Jupiter beckons us to EXPAND our horizons, embrace other cultural spiritual truths, try them on for size, and perhaps GROW spiritually as a result. Look back and ‘see’ where you were during these noted times, and check out where you are with them now. Any changes? Any revisiting of old ideas that, again, were thrown off to the sidelines of your Life? Hhhhmmmm….what needs to be reincorporated now into your daily life?

And I had to include the North Node – we currently have the South Node in Pisces (letting go of old outmoded stuff from the past). North Node in Pisces asks us to move gently, lovingly, and heartfully INTO our Future Self’s need for spiritual connection in some regard. To BE is Spiritual; to DO is Ego-oriented. We can BE as we DO! Think about it, meditate on it, walk in Nature and ruminate over it. Every 19 years the Nodes return to the sign they were in 19 years previously. Last round for the North Node in Pisces was from June 23, 2006 until December 19, 2007. Previous to this it was December 3, 1987 to May 22, 1988 – do you see the overlaps of several planets and the years gone by? The North Node is our Soul’s way of getting us to evolve ourselves in a direction not walked before, or not often. Hence our Ego-self’s reluctance to move forward with any excitement about doing it! ‘Tis a challenge to keep on keeping onward and upward – why else would we live so many many many lifetimes? Check back to where you were pushed beyond your known world during the noted times above. How well did you allow yourself to do so? How does WHAT you allowed/or not allowed NOW an issue, this year especially, that needs healing or letting go of? Any illusions/delusions you grabbed onto (sometimes so that the Ego-self ensured “I AM RIGHT! HUH! Go figure!” rather than what was TRUE for you) that now don’t seem to be healthy or truly YOU? Be honest…

I have shown our Past, Present and Future scenarios of new Inner growth themes herein. We have endured a lot as a global community through the Ages, and now as evolved spiritual BEings. What does the current cycle of Neptune + South Node in Pisces bring forth for you as opportunities for Spiritual change? How will Mercury Rx help you to “change your mind” about how you go about gaining, materially/physically? What will tomorrow’s Winter Solstice in Capricorn, the first day of Old Man Winter’s reign (hey! what was that -30C degree weather earlier this Moon cycle anyway? A heat wave!?) bring forth as a NEW way to set personal goals in your life? What DO you wish for yourself in 2017? Honestly, truly, heartfully? Beyond presents and things – what DO you truly wish for? Imagine (Pisces) the BEST! Trust, follow your intuition and your feelings/emotions and BE! Then DO!

MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone! Love and Hugs to All, and to ALL, a Good Night!

At 6:53a MST November 14th, the Moon sits in opposition to the Sun, creating the Full Moon phase. The Moon will be at 22 degrees of Taurus 38′ and the Sun, 22 degrees of Scorpio 38′. The Full Moon reflects the unconscious desires of the Sun/Soul at this time.

Looking back to the New Moon in Scorpio October 30th, what fears have you faced and surpassed these past two weeks? What is this Full Moon Illuminating for you? Bringing a bright flashlight or spotlight for you to SEE clearly that once was hiding for dear life within your Inner Darkness? What has been revealed into the Light for your awareness?

Taurus rules the throat, the thyroid gland, your ability to Speak Your Truth! Any issues with your throat this Full Moon brings your attention/awareness towards what you aren’t able to, or are afraid to, speak up about!

The Scorpio portion of the program (via the Sun’s Light) shows us clearly how much MORE passion we are allowing to flow within our lives, compared to where we were October 30th. Or, are you passionately fearful? Or, perhaps passionately fearless?

Venus rules Taurus, and therefore this Full Moon, which some are calling a Supermoon. The last time a Full Moon was in Taurus AND this close to Earth, was back in January 1948. Interesting. How close and loud does it have to get for you to VALUE yourself? Feel WORTHY? BE content with your lot in life? Are you like the Taurean Bull, contentedly chewing your cud in a lovely fragrant, alive pasture surrounded by warm sunshine and green growth, birds chirping, insects buzzing by? Taking your time to smell those roses, BE in Nature, and ruminate about what you truly VALUE in life?

Taurus rules the 2nd House of Life Experience in the birth chart. Venus, as ruler, beckons us to work (some might call it bull-work) within our own strength of character, the values we grew up with, the values we work out to BE our own (not someone else’s or society’s – MINE) that enriches our self-esteem and self-confidence and WORTHINESS. All of this, in turn, is wrapped within our unique set of talents, skills and experience we bring to the table of Life that assists each of us to “bring home the bacon” aka income. Which in turn we use to buy or experience those things we value. Business to business – B2B – Venus in Capricorn – what do you Desire from the businesses you use? How do they value you as a customer/client/partner? How do you value them? Is there a dovetailing of values or a gap?

Within the Full Moon chart, I see a YOD – that Finger of God – pointing to the Sun’s position within Scorpio.The vital and active part of our Soul (Sun) that incarnated down here on Earth to feel the range of emotions – the DEPTH of them – that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the Universe the way we can here. The Finger of God begins with the Vertex (Vx) in Gemini’s air element – fated/destined conversations, information, data we’ve had/gathered and then share with one another – mixed with the trio of players within Aries: Uranus + Eris + Ceres – all Rx (retrograde) turning their energies inward, personalizing it. Uranus brings Unexpected Change; Eris brings our awareness to an aspect of Self we’ve been reluctant to invite to the table of our Life; and Ceres brings much-needed nurturance/sustenance.

Aries is the cardinal fire of instinctual Self – BE in the MOMENT, BE spontaneous, BE Instinctual – without editing yourself for others. Aries also brings forth the Inner Warrior, Inner Explorer and Inner Pioneer – what aspect of your Inner Character have you been reluctant to assert? To explore deeper? To seek new IN-Roads of your True Self to be seen and heard by others?

Combining the Aries players with the Vertex in Gemini – what fated/destined awareness, knowledge, conversations, intertwined with “BECAUSE of your assertive curiosity + courage to try something NEW” shoots renewed energy to BE passionate Within YOURSELF and Your Life – ONLY if you allow those old patterns of conditioning to be let go. What are those patterns? Not noticing those times of fated/destined opportunities to JUMP INTO your Courage, INTO your Assertiveness, INTO your Curiosity, to EXPLORE new worlds, Within and Without, that brings you CLOSER to YOUR PASSION!

Your Ego-Self/brain will do all it can to prevent you from showing up, deciding to take that Leap of Faith, to DO something Different! BE aware of your inner resistance – this is a good sign! Breathe deeply and DIVE anyway! BE the passion. BE the awareness. FEEL the fear and DO IT anyway. During this Full Moon phase, with this Supermoon energy IN YOUR FACE anyway – what have you got to lose? Besides an opportunity?

Venus, as ruler of this Supermoon/Full Moon in Taurus, currently resides within Capricorn – brings forth our Desires for Better/More material gain. “When will it BE my time? When will my ship come in?” Full Moon in Taurus – go buy a lottery ticket! Challenge your Inner Worthiness! Are you worthy/worthwhile to WIN the jackpot yet? Seriously, I am asking you. ARE YOU WORTHY to receive ALL the BEST THINGS the Universe has to offer? Is it TIME yet, for you to ALLOW this in, to be received, taken and do with as you choose?

And just as my previous post stated, both Neptune Rx and South Node Rx are at 09 degrees of Pisces during this Full Moon. Chiron is at 20 degrees of Scorpio 48′, also Rx, and sends a love line to the Sun’s position in Scorpio. Water to Water. Pisces’ nebulousness to Scorpio’s iciness. The Sun can melt some of that ice – is your Ego-Self willing to go there to reveal your True Self’s passionate nature? Despite the fear? Will Neptune and the South Node reveal your Karma from past lives, that seems to BE in your face, now? Neptune likes to dissolve illusions/delusions our Ego-Self created to survive past traumas/events. Is it TIME to allow the dissolution of it all yet? Or are the fears of the Ego-Self winning? Let’s return to Aries’ Cup of Courage and drink deeply…to let those old patterns of conditioning dissolve too….

The US Election of last week is still a hot topic – I plan to write yet another post about the US chart and Pluto at 15 degrees of Capricorn’s cardinal earth sign. Cardinal is about New Beginnings. Capricorn is all about material gain. The old guard is dying – what will President-elect Trump learn for himself as he learns to be President and works at being the CEO of the United States? Pluto’s transit through Capricorn since 2008 (until 2024) has been transforming HOW we DO material gain in the world – globally – and at home. Pluto is bringing it HOME. Some aspect of HOW the United States’ beliefs about material gain have already toppled and died (Pluto is all about life/death/rebirth). What MORE can possibly occur these next 8 years? Stay tuned!

Enjoy the Moonlight tonight and tomorrow and Tuesday. Bask in your worth, value your commitment to building, hands-on, your daily bread-winning ways. BE in Nature (especially with the lovely weather of late!) and enjoy what you ALREADY HAVE. Envision (Neptune) a more passionately (Scorpio) sustaining future with all the good things this Earth can provide (Taurus). Take Unexpected Action (Uranus in Aries), invite that part of yourself that has been restless and wanting to join the party of your Life (Eris), and nurture ALL of You (Ceres) as best you can this Full Moon. Celebrate, value yourself, and your life.

It’s been a month since I last wrote a post. We all needed to pause, reflect and re-balance ourselves and our lives during the previous New Moon in Libra September 30 – October 29th. How did you do? What decisions did you make? Conversations/connections made? Are you satisfied with where you are, now? Did you gain equilibrium in some regard?

Today’s New Moon occurred at 11:39 a.m. MDT with both the Moon and Sun connecting at 07 degrees Scorpio 44′ AND Mercury holding hands at 09 degrees Scorpio 41. Cool! Our minds will be connecting in a deep-seated way this Moon cycle too! More awareness re: your fears and resistance to change. Emotionally – Scorpio is the Ice version of Astrological water signs, and the most private sign in the Zodiac. Hhhhmmm….Mercury will change that! Talk talk talk…including Self-Talk!

Pluto rules Scorpio, therefore rules this Moon cycle. Expect deep transformative changes, emotionally, perhaps right down to those deep-seated roots you’ve been hanging onto, unconsciously/subconsciously so. Currently, Pluto and Mars have been dancing together within the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn since October 15th, bringing forth Action (Mars) and transformation of the need to CONTROL things (Pluto) and their outcomes, as it relates to material gain (Capricorn), reputation, long-term goal-setting. If you needed to sip from the Cup of Courage to Take Action whilst also walking through feeling those deep-seated fears (!!) yay you! How does life look today, after having done so?

Scorpio rules the following areas of our respective lives (check out where in your charts the Sun is shining a Light into the Inner Darkness + the Moon brings up emotional issues to be healed + Mercury culling out thoughts/study/conversations to be had about ALL of this):

Fears – anything or everything – be consciously aware of these fears as this Moon cycle progresses. The days are shorter, the nights longer, darkness embraces us, preparing everyone for the Winter’s hibernation phase. All the flower beds and growing things are either dead or dying. Nature is preparing to sleep, slumbering within deep dreams of what GREW well this past year, what DIED, and what needs MORE NURTURANCE in the weeks and months to come. How aware are you of those deep-seated fears of yours? And, do you want to DO something about them?

Passions – emotional transformation brings forth renewed passion for living your life. Wherever Scorpio resides in your chart is where you’ve required renewal of passion. I have most of Scorpio in my 3rd House of Communication, Learning, Self-Talk, Siblings, Short-distance Travel and the Local Peeps I interact with on a daily basis. Hitting the Pause Button for the previous Moon cycle, for me, regained my passion for writing, and Astrology. What’s yours? Do you know what it is? If not, perhaps it will reveal itself deep within you this Moon cycle.

Investigation/Research abilities – yes Scorpio likes to dive deeply into any subject – to the nth degree! I can attest to this! Ask my clients and students! Here we decide where in our lives we need MORE – information, conversation, inner investigation – MORE and DEEP and perhaps within wells of emotion we were afraid to tunnel down into until this Moon cycle! Yes it is dark down there, yes there is fear to go where you haven’t gone before. FEEL those feelings – ask them what messages they bring for your conscious awareness. Walk through them. Investigate further by ASKING them. Truly – it works!

Intuition/psychic insights – we all have these abilities. Today’s client told me, “I don’t have those abilities.” I had to disagree – her natal Jupiter in Scorpio tells me otherwise. When we fear to BE sensitive (aka embrace our true and deepest feelings) with ourselves, we can shut down, emotionally and intuitively. Scorpio is the Ice Queen – frozen waterfalls and/or oceans of emotions, frozen In Time (as in earlier this lifetime and/or past lives!) that over Time, can manifest as PAIN or some other resistance within the physical body! Believe it! Hence why I suggest everyone TALK to your Feelings – TALK to your Pain! Mercury is here to help all of us with this ability this Moon cycle. Then LISTEN for the insights/symbols/signs that come your way for further guidance, next steps to take, etc. Yes. You. CAN.

Sexuality – yes more taboo subjects, especially here in North America, and how’s that working for you so far? Take another sip of Courage to have that conversation with your significant other, or your Doctor, or with yourself (!) about these natural human needs. If it’s been a long while since you last embraced your sexuality, this Moon cycle will bring forth the feelings that you may have ignored, for whatever reason. As humans, no matter how we resist it, change is all around us. Our sexual needs can change too – over time. Remember that Ice Queen analogy? How many of you, men and women, have put your sexual needs ‘on ice’?! Is it time for a thaw? Think about it, feel the deep-seated, natural passionate feelings/needs – then decide on what ‘needs to change’ and go about asking for it! Do it!

Power and Control Issues – yes, our societies, worldwide, seem to collectively struggle with this more and more. The heat of it has been turned way up. The upcoming US Election has been showing all of us where these issues lie – talk about LOUD and in our face! As Within, So Without. How do you deal with crisis? Do you run away, hide, or deal with it face on? Pluto, ruler of Scorpio, helps us transform our need to CONTROL our outer world, to the nth degree, tearing down those emotional walls or dams we’ve built up this lifetime (or brought with us, unresolved, from past lives, to deal with now). The thicker those walls or deeper those dams, the MORE we need to pay attention, turn on our Inner Listener, and FEEL what needs to be felt. Your feelings are there to get your attention! They are there for a reason! Listen. Feel. Then decide, “What do I wish to DO about them?” Ignoring them only makes it all the more LOUDER…over Time. How much LOUDER does it have to BE? Use this Moon cycle’s energies and planetary players to HELP you move through YOUR process! Find out what YOUR process is. All of this will lead to EMPOWERMENT – creating a win-win for you, with you and others.

Financial Partnerships – the debt you may owe, the money you hold with bankers, the income you receive from your employer (or yourself if self-employed), taxes owed, money shared with business partners/marriage partners. How are you dealing with all of this? Hiding? Showing up? Combination of the two? Do you open all the envelopes/emails that bring your statements? If not, what are you afraid of and not dealing with? What emotions come up for you re: MONEY? Is it highly charged with fear? Why? Use the Scorpion investigative skill to drill down to the roots of this subject. FEEL your way down into that pool of Money Fears. What does it look like? Feel like? How do you want to transform this feeling? “What will it take for me to feel JOY about Money?” Say this over and over – what will it take? Honestly. Christie Marie Sheldon’s “Love and Above” series re: our blocks to Abundance is incredible. It works – truly – therefore NOT for the faint of heart! Check out her YouTube videos, then check Within yourself, “Is this course for me?”

PHYSICALLY – Scorpio rules all those hidden parts of the body – sexual organs, elimination organs, PMS and menstruation, and sexual diseases. If you need to see your Doctor for that yearly exam you’ve been putting off – do it! Or chat with your new sexual partner about their sexual history – all part of that investigative skill that is Scorpio. Move beyond the frozen waterfall of Fear. BE transformed and Empowered by talking about it all, understanding comes forth, and whew! What a relief! Honestly. Here, again, we can hold onto past emotional hurts/trauma that can impact us physically. Do your due diligence – love yourself, respect your body, and TALK about it!

Heart Rock, Thanksgiving 2015

November 2nd, during the New Moon phase of initiating the NEW this Moon cycle, Venus connects with the Moon at 19 degrees of Sagittarius. Here She regains her breastplate and COMPASSION, via the Heart Chakra. All within 8 degrees of the Galactic Centre too! So some Cosmic Compassion this way comes – opening our Hearts to MORE LOVE, compassion and forgiveness – to/for Self and Others. Think back to December 7, 2015 when you REMOVED this breastplate/compassion via Venus’ journey of descent into the Underworld. What were you undergoing at that time, emotionally? Now see yourself, and your life, today. What needed to DIE within you back then, to be healed, that you are now fully embracing With Love? Cool, eh? Do you ‘see’ your Inner progress, hearfully? THIS is how Astrology supports Inner Evolution! As we evolve Within, our world evolves Without.

Remember this: each New Moon cycle brings forth a NEW cycle of emotional evolution, Within. The theme changes due to the sign both the Moon and Sun reside together in. By the Full Moon phase we are Illuminated with Inner understanding as to what was struggling, from Within, OUT of our Inner Darkness, to be brought forth INTO the Light of Love, Understanding, Compassion and Forgiveness. We all do this, consciously or otherwise, every Moon cycle. How I Love Astrology!

If you are ready, willing and want to explore your birth chart, to ‘see’ your Inner You more closely, give me a call! In Calgary, Alberta Canada: 1-587-353-8085 or via email: RainbowsAstro ‘at’ shaw.ca – I look forward to your call and your willingness to deeply explore that which you’ve been afraid to embrace, and evolve from, before now.

On July 18, 2015, a new leg of the 8-year long Synodic Journey of Venus began a 584-day Journey, began from the fixed fire sign of Leo. Each 584-day period x 5 periods = 8 years, creating a pentagram pattern in the sky. I’ve been wanting to write this post for many months, but the Time wasn’t right to do so, until today. August 3, 2016.

According to Shamanic Astrology, Venus in our birth chart represents our pre-existing desires and needs (via money, assets and resources) and the Value we place upon these outward things that are significant to us (the Taurus face of Venus) and transforms them, over time, to how we relate to them internally, energetically. Hence the sometimes “emotional attachment” we can have with THINGS!!

She also ushers in our ‘family’ of relationships (be they close friends, colleagues, co-workers, bosses, significant intimate partnerships, clients, business partnerships – the Libra face of Venus). Her transits (or journey She undergoes in the NOW) set us up for significant Karmic recall/re-examination. We attract those people/situations into our lives to live out past/current emotional/physical/mental/spiritual blockages, NOW, that we’ve either created this lifetime and/or brought forward from past lifetimes, to hopefully heal and finally embrace with love, within this lifetime.

Nose Hill Park July 2016

Venus, as the Goddess of Love, Peace, Harmony and her many ‘faces’- as maiden, mother and crone, has worked tirelessly to this end, together with the Asteroid Goddesses of:

Ceres (since 1801), Goddess of Agriculture, the Harvest, and Abundance of the Land – Mothering.

Eris (since 2005), Sister to Mars, Goddess of Strife/Discord – represents the part of Self you’ve neglected to INVITE to the party of YOUR LIFE!

The Divine Feminine Principles and energetic power returned to this Earth during the June 2012 transit of Venus moving across the Sun, for the world, and Universe, to see and experience. All women/girls of every walk of life and age have been undergoing a huge internal shift deep Within, be they conscious of it or not. We are learning to stand in our power as the Divine Feminine energy we truly are, regaining and mastering equality within this world that is Earth. After who knows how long, the Divine Feminine Energy Principle stands up to MEET, in EQUALITY, with the Divine Masculine Energy, to finally stand side-by-side.

Thistle, Nose Hill Park July 2016

Men have also been undergoing huge shifts Within, of THEIR Divine Feminine Power energy too! In order to do so, THEIR Divine Masculine Power energy has had to take a step back to ALLOW the EQUAL portion of their Inner Feminine to step in and take up more room within each of them. Not an easy or seamless process for them (letting go of power and control especially)! And yes, it is a process that is still ongoing…for all of us…

What exactly IS the Divine Feminine Power energy? The subtle realms of intuitive knowing, insights, ‘seeing’ symbolically, connection Within to your daily feelings, emotions, following your intuition, allowing the compassion, empathy, forgiveness and love to BE received, felt then shared. Our connection to the Divine, how we RECEIVE those messages. The Divine Masculine Power then Takes Action from those intuitive hits.

A pentagram star is created by Venus’ synodic journey (in the sky) from the date of our respective births, and is completed every 8th year. The significant birthdays for all of us are: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72,80, 88, 96 and 104, and we experience a Synodic Venus Return that year. Each of us are born during a particular phase of the Venus Cycle, and when Venus returns to her original position, with the Sun, near those birthday ages noted above, we in turn return to that phase in Her journey, within our life.

According to Cayenne K Castell, Shamanic Astrologer, “we move to an even higher octave of the feminine expression we came to earth to experience during each Venus Return timing. For women, it is all about our emerging feminine identity for this life, what aspect of the Goddess you have come to explore, express and help evolve. For men, this is their connection to the sacred feminine and what they intend to integrate as their Inner Other or Inner Beloved. Each 8-year Synodic Venus Return Cycle is a powerful initiation time intended to deepen our experience as well as be a part of the evolution of these Divine Feminine archetypal energies.”

“The 584-day Synodic cycle begins and ends from Heliacal Rise (meaning the planet Venus’ rise before the Sun does, when She is Rx – retrograde) to Heliacal Rise, up in the physical sky.

Sky Views from Nose Hill Park

On July 24, 2015 Venus Stationed Retrograde (Rx – began to move supposedly backward/energetically Inward) at 00 degrees of Virgo 45′ and disappeared from the evening sky on August 9, 2015 at 27 degrees of Leo. Interestingly, note that Jupiter also entered Virgo August 12th, 2015, seemingly guiding Venus on her Journey! Expansive and amplifying energy, to assist Her (and us!) past limited boundaries, taking leaps of Faith towards NEW heights. A rare event!

Venus spends 40 days Rx, moving from Evening Star (seeing Her in the evening sky) to Morning Star (seeing Her in the early morning sky). During Her Rx phase, Venus conjuncts with the Sun, and a few days later RISES as a Morning Star, and each step of the way as Morning Star She connects (conjuncts) with 7-8 Moon phases! So over 7-8 Moon cycles / months, Venus and the Moon connect. More on this later…

The Heliacal Rise of Venus August 21, 2015 occurred at 19 degrees of Leo and Stationed Direct September 5, 2015 at 15 degrees of Leo.” All of this sounds a wee bit technical, yet I ask you to think back in your life to these dates I mention: where were you, Within, and within your Life? How did you feel? What did you like/dislike about your life back then?

Question: have you heard of the story of the Descent of Inanna (Venus’ Summerian name) or Ishtar (Venus’ Babylonian name)? This is exactly what Venus’ 584-day Synodic Journey is all about! And has been recorded and celebrated for many 1,000s of years! Read on…

“Morning Star Venus (as Inanna/Ishtar) begins her descent into the Underworld. She meets with the waning Moon 7 times (sometimes 8) going through the 7 Gates into the Underworld. At each Gate she gives up a Vestment associated with the 7 Chakras, releasing any distortions linked with these Chakra energies:

Gate 1 – Crown Chakra – The Gate of Authority (removing Her crown) – occurred September 10, 2015 at 15 degrees of Leo, within the Balsamic Moon phase – where we experience a ‘death’ of some aspect of our Ego-Self, and seeds a re-birth soon to come during the next New Moon phase).

Gate 7 – Root Chakra – The Gate of Manifestation (removing Her royal robe) – occurred March 7, 2016 at 24 degrees of Aquarius, during the Balsamic Moon phase.

Gate 8 – The Death by Intent Gate, occurred April 6, 2016 at 01 degrees of Aries, during the Balsamic Moon phase. In other words, we began a symbolic ‘death’ of some sort within each of our respective lives!

Venus joins the Sun for 60 – 90 days – the Underworld phase. Here Inanna/Ishtar dies, then is reborn 60 – 90 days later, after She meets with the Sun, or Source of Life. Dying to Her old self, and preparing to be reborn anew.

Venus disappeared from the morning sky April 30, 2016 at 01 degrees of Taurus, and met the Sun on June 6, 2016 at 16 degrees of Gemini.

Labyrinth Walk with Chris, Nose Hill Park, July 2016

Venus rose as the Evening Star on July 13, 2016 at 02 degrees of Leo. From April 30 to July 13, we experienced our respective walks through the Underworld for 74 days! What aspect of Self died within you then?

As Evening Star, Venus meets with the waxing Moon 7-8 times, returning through the 7 Gates in the reverse order, now Transformed and Empowered from Her initiation as She regains her Vestments:

Gate 1 – Root Chakra – The Gate of Manifestation (regaining Her royal robe) – occurred TODAY, August 3, 2016 at 28 degrees of Leo,during the New Moon phase – where we initiate change, new beginnings, a rebirth of some sort!

Gate 2 – Sacral Chakra – The Gate of Creativity (regaining Her ankle bracelets) – will occur September 3, 2016 at 05 degrees Virgo, during the New Moon phase, 2 days AFTER the Solar Eclipse / New Moon at 09 degrees of Virgo 23′!

Gate 3 – Solar Plexus Chakra – The Gate of Personal Power (regaining Her ring of power) – will occur October 3, 2016 at 13 degrees of Scorpio, during the New Moon phase, 20 days after the Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon at 24 degrees of Pisces 13′!

Gate 4 – Heart Chakra – The Gate of Compassion (regaining Her breast plate) – will occur November 2, 2016 at 19 degrees of Sagittarius, during the New Moon phase.

Gate 5 – Throat Chakra – The Gate of Communication (regaining Her necklace) – will occur December 3, 2016 at 25 degrees of Capricorn, during the New Moon phase, just prior to the Crescent Moon phase (challenge/struggle between the New vs. the Old Ego-Self ways).

Gate 6 – Brow or 3rd Eye Chakra – The Gate of Perception (regaining Her royal staff) – will occur January 2, 2017 at 29 degrees of Aquarius, during the Crescent Moon phase.

Gate 7 – Crown Chakra – The Gate of Authority (regaining Her crown) – will occur January 31, 2017 at 28 degrees of Pisces, during the Crescent Moon phase, and 11 days prior to the Lunar Eclipse/Full Moon at 22 degrees Leo 34′!

Gate 8 – The Ascension Gate – Life by Intent – will occur February 28, 2017 at 13 degrees of Aries, during the New Moon phase, and 2 days after the Solar Eclipse/New Moon at 08 degrees of Pisces 09′!

Venus begins Her Rx phase in the evening sky March 3, 2017 at 13 degrees of Aries, and is Rx for 40 days, disappearing from the evening sky March 18, 2017 at 09 degrees of Aries. Then Venus travels with the Sun for 7-8 days, meeting with the Sun, exactly conjunct on March 25, 2017 at 05 degrees of Aries.

Venus emerges in the morning sky on March 31, 2017 at 01 degrees of Aries, as a whole NEW archetype of the Feminine – a.k.a the Heliacal Rise of Venus, and the start of a new 584-day cycle!

New Larch Trees!

For YOU To Do Next: think back on your life since July 2015. What changes have YOU undergone, deep within? Perceive what YOU let go of, via each Gate / Moon phase / Chakra from September 10, 2015 until the ‘death by intent’ April 6, 2016. Here are some keywords about each Chakra’s energetic influence (according to the Chopra Centre), Within YOU:

Root Chakra:influences physical identity, stability and sense of safety; when blocked, you may experience lack of physical energy, a sense of being ungrounded.

Third Eye Chakra:influences self-reflection, intuition, clarity of sight; when blocked, you may experience difficulty making decisions, poor intuition, lack of inspiration.

Crown Chakra:influences self-knowledge, spirituality, connection to the Divine; when blocked, you may experience difficulty meditating, lack of spiritual connections, aimlessness.

You will ‘see’ how well each of your Chakras were already working prior to your descent to the Underworld between September 10, 2015 and April 6, 2016. As you look back in time, what did YOU Let Go Of along the way, during each of those Gates/Moon phases? Be it consciously or unconsciously?

Now ‘see’, as of TODAY: what you are REGAINING, via your Root Chakra/1st Gate of Manifestation, that you DID NOT HAVE or were BLOCKED from, back on September 10, 2015! Do you ‘see’ your Inner Self’s changes along the way? Do you ‘see’ your Inner Growth? Yay! THIS is what Venus’ Synodic Journey brings to the table within each of us.

Nose Hill Vistas, July 2016

As you progress through the rest of the Gates between today and March 31, 2017, regaining more of what you TRULY wish for YOU, keep the following Leo Archetype symbolism (according to Shamanic Astrology) of Venus’ Synodic Journey since July 2015 in mind:

“Venus in Leo is not satisfied with simply surviving! Her impetus is directed to THRIVE, to gain MORE joy, pleasure, reward, love and acknowledgement!

Increasing our sense of Desire and Deserving of ALL good things!

Venus in Leo stokes the fire Within with added confidence, enthusiasm, optimism, and creative instinct.

Venus in Leo creates a time to renew our love affair with Self and with LIFE! This transit will prompt you to an Inner Search and Retrieve of the ‘good stuff’ that you may have forgotten or let go of before this cycle!

She will set the wheels in motion to awaken your sense of “I DESERVE!”, in turn launching the CREATE-IT Process! [I love how the Oprah/Deepak Chopra 21-day Meditation challenge this past month was ALL ABOUT Creativity, exactly setting us up for TODAY!]

When your sense of deserving is well-centred, a more fruitful stage is set for the calling forth of reward!”

We will learn to embody the STRENGTH of both Mars and Saturn Rx within Sagittarius this Moon cycle too – both part of our Inner support system. Leo rules the heart AND the back/spine – do you HAVE the backbone (aka strength) to ASK for (verbally, OUT LOUD) and CREATE what you heartfully WANT in your life? We require this, to CHOOSE from STRENGTH, rather from FEAR…from our own Higher Creative Self in other words.

Prairie Wildflower, July 2016

This Moon cycle began with the Yod, Finger of God pointing to the Sun/Moon position in Leo. Today I want to mention the Mutable Grand Square within the upcoming Lion’s Gate Portal, August 8th – the day of Divine heartfelt downloads of messages for each of us, creating flowing solidness (backbone/spine) for each of us to stand up from Within, from the following planetary players:

Midheaven in Gemini: what information/data are you RECEIVING during this Lion’s Gate Portal timing? How does it serve you?

South Node and Neptune (Rx) in Pisces: retrieving and keeping the ‘gems’ of our Spiritual / Divine Self, AND archiving the old Drama Triangle/martyrdom roles we played so well…then IMAGINE to New Life you wish for yourself!

Mars and Saturn (Rx) in Sagittarius: what ACTION will you take, BE responsible for, OUT in the wider world? How will you seek your Higher Truth/Purpose – your role THIS lifetime? Take some time August 8th to look at the BIG PICTURE of your life to this point – where have you been? How have you travelled to this time and place since birth? What MORE do you desire to DO/BE/THINK/DESIRE? Can you ‘see’ what’s beckoning you on to Next Steps forward?

Mercury and North Node in Virgo: How, and what, are you deciding to BE of service with or for? How does this look different to where you were back in September? Any of the aforementioned – how is it BETTER, AUTHENTIC, TRUER for you now?

As I mentioned in the previous post about the New Moon in Leo, I feel Hilary Clinton’s very public rise to where she is now, running for the position as the next President of the United States, brings to mind a few things: does she have the heart for it? Does she have the backbone to do the job? And will she LEAD with HEART? Another key phrase that is Leo. What do the American people need more of? Hope for?

It will be interesting to see how Hilary herself undergoes this Gate, and the next 3 Gates, regaining her royal robe, ankle bracelet, ring of power and breast plate, respectively, between now and the US Election November 8th (which occurs during the 1st QTR Moon phase in Cancer – all about FAMILY, and a Crisis of Action to be taken to break the bindings of the Past in order to create CHANGE!).She and Queen Elizabeth are two different female leaders. Who comes from the heart, leading the way by standing true to her Inner Divine Feminine Power? And what changes will occur to both women/leaders between now and then?

What changes are YOU intending in your own life? I will remind each of us, during the coming Moon cycles and Eclipse timings, what we are REGAINING – women AND men! BE the CHANGE you want to SEE! Stay tuned…

Today’s New Moon began at 5:02a MDT with the Moon and Sun standing together at 12 degrees of Cancer 54′ – look to your birth charts to see the House of Life Experience this Moon cycle is activating for YOU as new beginnings and insights until August 2nd.

Cancer, as the Cardinal Water sign, rules the 4th House of home, hearth, mothering/nurturance, and the family emotional lineage. Cancer is ruled by the Moon – so this Moon cycle brings forth emotional baggage to be sorted through – and again, the House where 12 degrees of Cancer 54′ resides in your birth chart is the stage from which you will gain emotional INsight and healing.

Cancer really is the element of water – hence more rain and thunderstorms weatherwise, and emotionality personally will be experienced. As I write this post we are experiencing yet another thunderous storm of water!

Mercury is also helping out this Moon cycle – sitting at 09 degrees of Cancer 38′ – allow yourselves to express Self emotionally in your conversations, social media connections, and self talk. Lean into your intuitive side, bring out those deep INsights of why you are the way you are when it comes to self-nurturance, nurturance of others, and within family. The House where Cancer lies indicates to whom you give nurturance AND from whom you look to receive it.

Looking UP inside National Music Centre July 1, 2016

Pluto sits opposite the Moon + Sun + Mercury, bringing in possible power and control issues related to MONEY or material gain (Capricorn) – so watch out for highly emotional interactions with family, extended family and friends who seem more like family than your family of origin. Try emPOWERment rather than power over or controlling tendencies – via LOVE, acceptance of differences, FORGIVENESS, COMPASSION – you see the theme here. Choose to see all aspects and sides of each story. As we all know, however many children grew up in the same household, there will be the SAME number of differing experiences and stories to share and perhaps heal.

This Moon cycle we will look down to the ROOTs of our respective origins – the parents who raised us, the family we lived with as children until we left their nest to strike out on our own. What will you be revisting?By August 2nd (the next New Moon date) you will know…

Our family heard late last week of the death of the father of one of the neighbourhood families we all interacted with when we were kids – the oldest daughter of that family and I were each other’s FIRST best friend! Loads of memories occurring for us as we remember those moments, her Dad, and their struggle with the English language (they came from Italy). Mirella had the responsibility to learn English at school, then be interpreter for her parents, aunt and uncle, until everyone else (including her siblings) learned to acclimate in their new home, city and country. Mirella took on the role of Mother in a unique way at a young age!

It is interesting that Cancer and the 4th House also represent the Country we live in or came from. Canada celebrated its 149th Birthday July 1st – and today is the 240th birthday of the USA. Both countries have Cancer as their Sun sign….interesting…we are very different from one another. It all depends upon where the Sun resides in both country’s charts! I will do an analysis of them in my next blog.

Potted Dwarf July 1 2016

Pluto’s position within Capricorn (Cardinal Earth sign) also squares off with all the shenanigans of Uranus + Eris within Aries (Cardinal Fire sign). In June we all experienced something ‘come to a head’ respectively in our lives – where is Aries in your chart? This is the House of Life Experience where “Free to BE ME!” came to a head – and Eris brought inSIGHT re: whatever aspect of YOU you’d been ignoring for a while, not allowing to come to the table. Uranus, Expect the Unexpected CHANGE guy, brought the electrical lightening bolt of CHANGE – be you willing to experience it or not! Bottom line: if you were allowing yourself to SEE the change that was required, you then ALLOWED it in by DOing the actions required in June. If you didn’t, well guess what? It happened despite all your best denial efforts…not easily.

NOTE: June’s coming together of Eris + Uranus exactly in June will be repeated in September and lastly in March 2017! The first hit of transits is always the worst – a bit of shock at the change – the next 2 times we all undergo this NEED to BE FREE will feel more familiar – and you will take it IN STRIDE, easier! The directions we thought we’d be heading into during the June Moon cycle weren’t necessarily the directions we DID head into…

Both Moon’s Nodes (North and South) have passed the halfway mark – sitting at 14 degrees of Virgo (North) and 14 degrees of Pisces (South). The North Node has been escorted most of the time by Jupiter, also in Virgo, since August 2015. Where is Virgo in your chart? This is where you expand beyond usual boundaries, take new risks (along with that Eris/Uranus duo in Aries!) and walk forward into the direction your Soul wants new experiences from (North Node). Could be you are re-visiting areas of life you experienced 12/13 years prior (last time Jupiter travelled through Virgo). Think back to that time, see where you were, and how does that time dovetail with NOW? And how has Eris/Uranus helped you to BE more ME in this round so far?

Arugula + Kale Garden

This Moon cycle, initiating NEW stuff (all those Cardinal signs!) emotionally, family-wise, self-nurturance-wise, boundaries, control/power – look at it from the perspective of ME, then my Ego-Self, then move outward to the family you are in now, then your family of origin/extended family, to the friends who are family, then out to your Country.What are you emotionally ‘seeing’ perhaps for the very first time? What needs nurturance? Do you have the skills for it? Do you need nurturance to do the healing?

The BREXIT issues continue to unfold – what issues do Canada and the USA have in common with Britain’s need to BE ME away from the European Union? It will be interesting to hear and read, on a COUNTRY level, what comes forth between now and August 2nd. All in Divine Timing, as ever.

Today we Canadian’s celebrate our Thanksgiving Day, which, from the research I have done began 42 years prior to the first Pilgrim (early Puritans) Thanksgiving in New England! Interesting…

Historically, our Canadian Thanksgiving began with the completion of a tumultuous third voyage of explorer Sir Martin Frobisher, who, under the sponsorship of Queen Elizabeth I in 1578, came to North America in search of a Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean. He landed that year in what is now known as our province of Newfoundland, and formally celebrated survivinghis long journey exploring this passage, and not for a successful harvest (as the Pilgrims did in Plymouth Colony 42 years later in 1620).

Fall Colours, Oct 12, 2015

Frobisher introduced to North America what his sponsor, Queen Elizabeth I, did throughout her 44-year long reign – annually marking her gratitude to be alive, a leader, protected and appreciated by Her people – via public displays of Thanksgiving from the year of her coronation, 1559, until her death in 1603. It was proclaimed a day of dancing, laughter, love and tears – the Merrie Old Englanddepicted by the playwrights William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, and the poet Edmund Spencer, all of the Elizabethan Era.

In 1578 Frobisher and his men brought this Elizabethan mindset with them, and succeeding immigrant groups to what is now Canada did the same:

The French, via explorer Samuel de Champlain, who founded what became New France and Quebec City, in 1604, celebrated all of this via Thanksgiving feasts;

After the Seven Years’ War ended in 1763, when New France was handed over to the British, Halifax citizens feasted their Thanksgiving;

The Loyalists from America, colonist survivors of the American Revolution (1775-1783), who remained loyal to England, brought the American customs of Thanksgiving to Quebec and Nova Scotia – the turkey, squash and pumpkin pie;

Lower and Upper Canada observed Thanksgiving on different dates in 1816, celebrating the end of the war between France and England;

In 1838, Lower Canada used Thanksgiving to celebrate the end of the Lower Canada Rebellion. Thereafter Thanksgiving was celebrated six times from 1850 to 1865 as they merged into a united Province of Canada.

The first Thanksgiving Day after Canadian Confederation was observed as a civic holiday on April 5, 1872 to celebrate the recovery of the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) from a serious illness. For many years prior to November 6, 1879 (when it was finally declared a national, rather than religious, holiday) Thanksgiving Day was celebrated either in late October or early November.

Sheep River, Okotoks, AB Oct 12, 2015

In 1957 Thanksgiving Day was officially declared to be the second Monday in October. The theme changed each year to reflect on an important event to be thankful for.

What I found fascinating whilst researching all of this is the ROOT of the difference between the Canadian and American versions of their respective Thanksgiving Day:

Sir Martin Frobisher sailed to North America in 1578 under sponsorship of Queen Elizabeth I, and brought with him Her version of what Thanksgiving meant – surviving her half-sister Queen Mary’s repeated efforts to kill Her (Elizabeth) and then successfully reigning for the next 44 years thereafter, whilst bringing further employment, progress and wealth to the country that had suffered greatly under her half-sister “Bloody Mary” (who wanted to end the Reformation, to reform the Church of England to full communion with the Church of Rome) and previous to that, her father King Henry VIII’s English Reformation (reforming movements of Erasmian, Lutheran, Reformed, and the Church of England – which displayed similarities with Roman Catholicism) which morphed into Calvinism (and Evangelical reform) under his son, Edward VI’s reign (prior to “Bloody Mary’s” reign).

The Pilgrims were Separatists, emerging during Elizabeth I’s reign (she had been raised as a Protestant, and attempted to make England Protestant without alienating the Catholic population who had supported Mary – aka the Elizabethan Religious Settlement in 1559) by separating from the Church of England in the late 1580’s. By 1606, due to social hostility and fear of future persecution, this group left England for Amsterdam, then by 1617 wanted to move to where they could still retain their English identity, so in 1620 landed in the US state of New England at Plymouth Rock. This Plymouth Colony later experienced tensions between the Indians and previous New England colonists, turning into the deadly conflict called King Philip’s War. In 1620 the Pilgrims gave their first Thanksgiving for a successful harvest by befriending and cooperating with the Indians in order to learn how to survive the coming winter.

The Puritan Movement came about in the 1560’s, for further reform of the Church of England (aka Anglican Church). From the 1560’s to 1570’s, Calvinism also came into being. In this pro-Protestant, anti-Catholic environment, the Puritans pushed for more reforms on the Church of England via the Admonition to the Parliament, setting off a major controversy in England.

King James VI of Scotland (Queen Mary’s son) who took the throne after Queen Elizabeth I’s death in 1603, had been raised in the Presbyterian Church in Scotland, which looked broadly like the type of church the Puritans wanted in England. In 1604 they held a conference (the Hampton Court Conference) with the King to discuss their issues. He agreed to some reform, not wholly. By 1623-1624, King James viewed the Church of England to be a mix or middle way between Protestantism and Catholicism. It all went downhill from here, hence the rather large immigration of Puritans from England to New England between 1630-1640. The Puritans had believed the Anglican Church needed to be purified of the influence of Catholicism. When England’s rulers refused to make these changes, the Puritans felt they needed to live elsewhere.

Uprooted Tree from 2013 Flood, Okotoks, AB, Oct 12, 2015

What are we learning here? Freedom to pray as one wished AND thankfulness of having survived – be it exploring uncharted waters/country, immigrating to a new country and learning how to “weather” the extreme elements and original occupants, or the end of a war, with renewed Peace and Prosperity.

I find it fascinating to look back in history to the roots of the beginnings of our two countries who share a Thanksgiving Day and a continent, yet do so for different reasons and in different months of the year.

What are YOU grateful for today, and give THANKS for? How do you show this during these annual feasts? Sharing your table and bounty with family, friends, strangers? By yourself? Ignoring it completely?

I am most grateful to what is left of my family, to the family who have departed us, and to the work I am gifted to share with my clients, students, and strangers to Astrology (which is not a religion)! I give Thanks for the health of my physical body, how I continue to Keep on Keeping On despite my struggles, and to all my Soul Family – those Earth Angels who have shown me, and my family, their support these past two years especially.

Elms, Okotoks, AB Oct 12, 2015

Returning to our Roots has the distinct similarity to Returning to Basics: remember WHY you are doing WHEN you are doing, while BEing all at the same time. Explorers and people fleeing wars or religious persecution of the distant past – coming full circle to watching it all unfold yet again in the Middle East – interesting what goes around, comes around. In ways and means we would never imagine in the moment of Action we take to BE FREE to BE ME (Uranus in Aries since May 29, 2010) in the here and now.